Water overflow...now what to do?

[Doug Mitchell]

Dear Group,

With the faucet running I let the laundry tub on the main floor overflow. By the time I caught the problem (I was home the time of the incident) water had covered the laundry room floor, into the hall and partly into the dining room. Of course with nowhere to go water then went through the floor into the finished basement below :( :(. It is a terrible feeling.

In the basement below (drywall with popcorn ceiling) water was coming out of the light fixture and water had run down the inside of the wall(s) and then out about a foot onto the carpet.

Anyways I had towels everywhere. With the visible water on the mainfloor absorbed I then immediately rented a heavy duty fan and large dehumidifier for the basement. Both have now run for 24 hours.

The ceiling did not buckle and there is just one small water stain on the ceiling. Visibly the drywall itself seems fine. The carpet is close to dry.

I need some advice.

I am concerned about *unseen* damage behind the drywall and in the popcorn ceiling. Will running the fan and dehumidifier past the time the carpet is dry help at all to dry *behind* walls and *in* the ceiling? If so when should I turn them off?

I called insurance. An adjuster will come early next week. Is it a given that one should tear out the affected walls and ceilings not because of visible damage but because of possible mold (sp?).

Thanks for your experience.

-- Doug Mitchell ( [e-mail])

[Joseph Meehan]

When the dehumidifier is no longer removing a lot of water.

No, it is not a given. Getting wet once and being allowed to dry out in a reasonable time should not cause a mold problem. Staying wet for a long time is a cause for concern.

You did will and if he is any good, your insurance adjuster should give you good advice and check for likely concealed damage.

If you like you could hire a home inspector to stop by before the insurance man to have a second opinion.

[Kyle Boatright]

Excellent advise below. One wetting doesn't cause mold. That's caused by long term humidity. One thing you can do in addition to the dehumidifier is run the heat or air conditioning in your house, if the climate allows. Either will help drop humidity inside your house.

[Doug Mitchell]

I am starting to feel a bit better.

But how for example will insulation dry or be still of insulating value if it has been wet inside a wall?

Doug

dehumidifier

[Doug Mitchell]

I just went and turned on the furnace.

[Joseph Meehan]

Most insulation will be fine, in time. It will take a while to dry. I actually doubt if you have much in the insulation in a wall.

[Ken G.]

How about cutting out the drywall at the top 12" of the wall, or at least where you think the most water was. Then you get a good assessment of the damage, and can leave it off for a week or two.

Then you may only need to buy one new sheet, cut into 12" strips. Easy to put up, get a Time/Life Do-It-Yerself book for all the details.

Ken

[Dan]

The insulation will dry out over time. You did well and responded quickly. Paint the ceiling stain with pigmented shellac before repainting and you should be fine. You can get Kilz in spray cans to prime water stains. If you paint it with latex without the shellac or Kilz the stain will bleed through. All this mold foolishness is much overstated, don't panic about it.

[1_Patriotic_Guy]

I would definately install an overflow drain on that laundry tub to prevent repeating the problem.